The National Republican Congressional Committee is out with a new ad criticizing DFLer Patty Wetterling, who’s running for Congress in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. The ad is critical of Wetterling’s decision to run for Congress after saying she wouldn’t.

Here is the audio from the ad:

“Patty Wetterling says she’s too liberal to win a race for Congress and she promised Democrats she wouldn’t run again. But after a failed run for the senate, Wetterling broke her word. She said things have changed. The Democrat she misled said ‘What’s changed the most is Patty Wetterling.’ Wetterling has long been a high tax liberal now she’s a high tax liberal politician we can’t trust. The National Republican Congressional Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.“

The ad also shows unflattering pictures of Wetterling with several quotes from the Star Tribune, the St. Cloud Times and her former DFL opponent Elwyn Tinklenberg. Here are the visuals:

“I’m not going to run for the Sixth District. The numbers show me that I will not win.” Star Tribune 1/21/06, 2/4/06

“…she’ll have to explain whether she is breaking her word.”

Star Tribune 1/21/06, 2/4/06

“Everything changed.” Star Tribune, 2/4/06

“I’m sad to say I believe one of the things that has changed most is Patty.” Elwyn Tinklenberg, St, Cloud Times, 2/4/06

“A High Tax Liberal Politician we can’t trust.”

The NRCC is running these ads with the hopes that it will help Republican Michele Bachmann. Independence Party member John Binkowski is also running.

About the blogger

Tom Scheck has covered politics and state government for more than ten years for MPR News. He’s covered several gubernatorial campaigns, two statewide recounts, the presidential bids of Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann, U.S. Senate races, close Congressional contests and the Minnesota Legislature. He lives in Falcon Heights with his wife, son and dog. He can sometimes be found chasing a white ball on a golf course. It isn’t a straight walk. Tips are welcome at tscheck@mpr.org

They clearly didn’t ask for the advice of Al Quie on this one, who advised Gutknecht thusly:

Gutknecht, who would like to run for governor some day, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he sought the advice of former Gov. Al Quie, who once represented his southern Minnesota district in Congress, about going back on his promise to retire after six terms. “He looked at me and said, ‘Does it make any sense to keep a stupid promise?’” Gutknecht explained.

I love this ad because it is SO CONFUSING. The background music is soothing, and the things they attack her with aren’t even attacks! Saying things have changed isn’t a crime or even a bad thing. Neither is being too liberal for the Democrats. Who did they think this would deter? I had no idea it was an attack ad until the very end. It could very well be:

“Patty Wetterling says she’s too liberal to win a race for Congress and she promised Democrats she wouldn’t run again. But after a failed run for the senate, Wetterling broke her word. She said things have changed. The Democrat she misled said ‘What’s changed the most is Patty Wetterling.’ Wetterling realizes that Minnesota, and the United States, need her now more than ever. Vote for Patty Wetterling.”